• Parent Tips

     

    "The single most important activity for building the knowledge required for eventual success in reading is reading aloud to children." 
    (Richard C. Anderson, Becoming a Nation of Readers)

     

    Ten Ideas Parents Can Use to Improve the Quality of Shared Literacy Experiences 

    1.     Get your child to talk. Your child should be engaged with the story, and in 
    talking about the story. You can promote engagement by asking questions, 
    and prompting your child to predict what will happen next. 

    2. Help your child understand the story. While reading the story, check regularly
    to determine whether your child is understanding the story. If he/she does not,
    fill in the missing pieces, and explain what is happening in your own words. 

    3. Praise your child. Let your child know that you are proud of him/her when he/she
    asks a good question, makes a good connection, confirms a prediction, is interested
    in a new word, shares something about a character, says something interesting, 
    uses word identification strategies, and/or reads well. 

    4. Relate the book to your life. Use the book as a jumping point to tell your child 
    something interesting about your life, or an event the book reminds you of. Then
    ask your child to relate the book to his/her life, and make a personal connection.

    5. Ask your child good questions during storybook reading. Why and How questions are very useful in stimulating thought-provoking discussions that support higher level comprehension. 


    6. Wait for answers. After you ask a question, give your child time to answer. 
    Wait time gives your child the chance to think more deeply about his/her response,
    use and expand his/her vocabulary, and increase engagement with the text. If
    your child in unable to respond after a reasonable wait time, simply take the lead.
    Remember that asking an open-ended question (where a child has to construct
    an answer) will require more wait time than a closed question (a question that
    requires a yes or no answer.

    7. With younger children, focus on the print. You can do this by pointing to the 
    words as you read. This will help your child understand that written words are
    speech written down. You can also emphasize that we read from left to right,
    top to bottom, and we turn pages when we are finished reading all the words on 
    a page. 

    8. With older children, take turns reading. You can each read a paragraph, page, or
    several pages. You can read some portion of the text silently, then stop at a 
    specific point, and discuss what you read. Then you can figure out how to keep
    reading. By alternating reading formats, you can keep your child engaged in the 
    story.

    9. Choose books carefully. You want to choose a book that will engage your child,
    stimulate his/her interest or imagination, promote vocabulary development and
    exposure to figurative language, support basic comprehension, nurture critical
    thinking skills, and feed your child's motivation to want to read. Do not think 
    that every book you read has to do all of these things, everytime you read. 
    Furthermore, do not think that everytime you read, you have to do all of these
    things. Always keep in mind that shared literacy experiences are meant to be
    pleasurable. In addition, do not choose a book that is too easy, or too difficult. 
    Teachers and librarians can assist you with this process.

    10. Have fun! As stated above, keep the book sharing experience enjoyable. 
    Reading with your child provides a valuable opportunity to promote your
    child's lifelong love of literature. 


    References: 
    Diane H. Tracey (2000) Enhancing Literacy Growth Through Home-School Connections.  In Beginning Reading and Writing(Strickland and Morrow.)

    Lane, H. B. and Wright T. L.  (2007)  Maximizing the effectiveness of reading aloud.  
    The Reading Teacher Vol. 60 (7) 668-675. 

     

    Before Reading:

    • Read the title and look at the cover together; make a prediction as to what the story might be about. Try asking them why they made that prediction.
    • Take a picture walk through the book.
    • Flip through the pages of the story and discuss together what might happen next.

     

    While Reading:

    Reading TO a child...

    • Involve your child in the story.  Have him/her turn the pages.
    • Make sure your child can see the pictures easily.
    • Use plenty of expression, reading in a natural speaking voice.
    • Try using different voices to express the characters' feelings.  This will make the story more interesting for you and your child. 
    • Encourage your child to predict what might happen as the story develops.
    • Point to each word, sliding your finger along the text.

     Reading WITH a child...

    • Begin reading the story to your child at a speed your child is comfortable with.
    • Take turns reading a page to each other.
    • When your child comes to a difficult word ask:  “Look at the picture.  What word would make sense?” or “Look at the beginning letter of the word.  What word begins with that sound and would make sense here?” or “Try reading that whole sentence again.  See if you can think of a word that makes sense.”
    • Stop periodically to ask your child, “What happened in that paragraph (on that page, in that chapter, etc.)?,” to check comprehension.

     

     After Reading:

    • Talk about the story:  “What did you like best about the characters?” or “How would you have changed the ending?” or “Did the story remind you of any other story or of things that have happened to you?”
    • Ask your child to retell the story in his/her own words. 

      

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Last Modified on July 27, 2021